Trunk



June 6, 1933. A NHS 1,912,787

TRUNK Filed Aug. 9, 1932 2 Sheetsheet l L. A. NEIS June 6, 19133.

TRUNK Filed Aug. 9,- 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I llll I I I I l I I I L l lIl'ln'llllrell ici Patented June 6, 1933 l UNIT-,13D ES PATENT OFFICELoNGINUs A.` NEIsoF DIXON, ILLINOIS, AssIerNoIt` 'ro `.armamenti BonY &can

COMPANY, oF DIXON, I nIiINoIs, A coItPonATIoN or ILLINOIS TRUNKApplication inea August 9, 1932. serial Nqjezaoai.

This invention relates to a trunk "such as is particularly adapted forymounting at the rear l of an automobile. It comprises a mounted iixedsection to which is hinged a 5,l swinging section adapted, ywhen openedout,

toprovide with the lixed section an enclosure,`

open only at the top, with a relatively rlarge capacity. H N N N Thisinvention which is concerned gener- 1p,l ally with a trunk of the kindmentioned, is

capable otwithstandi'ng hard and continuedr service. Other objectsV andadvantageswill 25` appear more clearly hereinafter from the descriptionand claims` taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings whereiniS exhibited asuggestive embodiment of my invention in themannerfollowing:`

Figure`1 is a perspective view of the trunk having-"its sections in`,closed relationship shown as mounted upon a ralckforV platform at therear end oit an automobilegf K Fig. 2 is a view in perspective showingthe swinging section ofthe trunk opened outto provide `an enclosure,open only at the top, of large capacity; l i I Y Fig. 3isa`i?ragmentaryplan view showing the wall connections adjacent the backof the iixed section; N

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the trunk' with the swinging sectionopened lout almost to its limit; N f

Fig. 5 Aisua detail in section on line 5 of Fig. 6 which is a viewsimilar to Fig. 5,

shows the swinging section moved to the,

` trunk, andmay be releasably secured in` this N is a detail inperspective, partly Nin,

section, exhibiting supporting hool;` connection between the hinged andside wallsof the trunk.

As illustrated, the trunk comprises. a section A adapted for fixedmounting as upon a 5,5,`

rack or platforml` extended atthe rear of an automobile, and aswingingsectionB which is,V hinged to the fixed section. rLhe trunk mayconveniently befornied of plywoodl l() ex-` posed on the trunk interior,backed by plate GQN 11` of some such material` as sheet metal` andreenforced, desired, by metallic straps 12 which are extended alongtheedges of the walls and connected thereto as byrivets 13 which mayextend through both the sheet and (15;V

plywood.` Such alconstruction is advantan geous inthat itis light anddurable and am- Y ply strong to meet all requirements of service.

The iixed section comprises'a back 15 which upstands from the rear edgeof a; bottom 16. '10,

Extending forwardly from opposite ends of the back are` vertical`flanges 17.` Connected to each flange, asby apiano hinge 18,.,is a

hinged wall 19, the vertical height of which is substantially the sameas that of the back.

The two` hinged walls when folded, as shown in Fig. 3, may beextendedpast each other so as to occupy a minimum of space within theposition by Na latch 14.

The swinging section comprises a front 20 to which are connected sides21 and a top 22 all in fixed" relationship. Along the bottoni` of thefront, connection ,is made as by a piano, hinge 23`with the forward edgeof the bottom, 5,5 permitting theswinging section to be opened outthrough or thereabouts. When in closed position, as shown in Figl, theswing-1 ing section complements ,the fixed section tol provide a space,`enclosedon all sides, which 99 is adapted tofreceive and protect anyarticles `thatiare contained therein, As by means of hasp fasteners 2li,or other desired fittings, the one section may be locked securely totheother.` y

f In the open position shown in 2, the two trunk sections provide anVenclosure; which is open at the top; The sides 21'which extend toward`the back onlyas far as the hinge 23 leave openings which areclosable by109 the hinged walls 19 when swung out parallel with and adjacent to thesides, as shown. The bottom edges of the hinged walls are desirably cutaway at 25 to a slight extent as shown, for a purpose which willpresently apear.

p To sustain the swinging section in its opened-out position I providedual supporting means both connected inseparably to the end flanges 17of the back. One such means Consists of a pair of jointed links 26 and27 pivotally connected at 28, one having a pivotal connection at 29 withits associated fiange 17, and the other a pivotal connection 30 with theassociated side 21, preferably adjacent its reenforcedtopedge.Onelinkisprovided with a shoulder 31 adapted to overlie the other whenthe two are brought into alignment, as shown in Fig. 2, thereby limitingunfolding of these links to a straight line position. The links are freeto fold only in an upper direction, as indicated by full lines in Fig.4. When straightened, as shown in Fig. 2, the links will effectivelyresist any endwise thrust which might bepoccasioned through a verticallifting force applied to the swinging trunk section. Accordingly thelinks, of which a pair may be advantageously used at each end of thetrunk, serve both to sustain the swinging section in its fully openedposition, and to prevent closing of the swinging section, except whengiven a breaking motion in an upper direction.

The other means by which the. swinging section is sustained in itsopened-out position comprises co-acting means on the sides 21 and hingedwalls 19 transmitting tension through the latter to the back of thefixed trunk section. As shown, the hinged walls consist each of a metalsheet having its vertical free edge 35 reversely bent to provide aspaced two-ply reenforcement. The ply which faces the associated side 21.is cut out at 36 to form an opening having a bottom edge 37;k andco-acting with this edge is a tongue 38 downturned from a plate 39 onthe side 21, the tongue forming with the opening a hook connection whichis effected by swinging the hinged wall over the tongue just prior tothe swinging section reaching its fully opened-out position. With thetongue in a position to hook over the edge 37 the swinging section maybe released to drop to its final position where it is sustained by boththe hooks and the folding links. To facilitate the swinging movement ofthe hinged walls necessary for engaging and disengaging with the hooks,I have cut back the lower edge of each hinged wall, as at 25, a distancewhich permits the swinging section to be raised sufficiently for thisVpurpose. It will be noted that the hookjconnections just described liebetween the confronting faces of the interengaged walls so as to beconcealed therebetweenr` Other features incorporated into the presenttrunk include an angle strap 40 extended vertically along the ends ofthe back, and another angle strap 41 extending beyond the ends of thebottom, the flanges of the straps facing forwardly and upwardly,respectively, so as to enc-lose the proximate edges of the sides 21 whenthe swinging section is in closed position. By some such means as thisprotection to the inside of the trunk is afforded from the exterior.

The construction herein described is of unusual strength, due to theco-operation of the several connecting walls. The horizontal length ofthe hinged walls is preferably equal to the fore and aft dimension ofthe bottom plus the vertical height of the front, whereby the freevertical edge of each hinged wall may be positioned adjacent the frontwall when the swinging trunk section is extended outwardly, as shown.

The present structure provides an enclosure, open at the top, extendingalong the sides to a height substantially the same as that of the back,thereby enhancing the capacity of the trunk as well as the safety of thearticles which may be carried therein. By the use of piano type hinges,a very strong pivotal connection is made between the two sections of thetrunk, and also between the hinged wallsV and they forwardly facingflanges at opposite ends of the back. The value of such connections isrealized through the utilization of the hinged walls as a"sustainingmeans for the swinging section when the latter is opened out to itsextended position. Although the folding links, which constitute inelfectstay hinges, afford some support to the swinging section, I do not relywholly upon such means, but rather upon the hinged walls which, whenmade of heavy steel plate, have ample capacity for sustaining theswinging section together with any load that may be carried in thetrunk. The stay hinges serve adequately to resist any upward closingmovement of the swinging section, thereby preventing disengagement ofthe supporting connection with the hinged walls.

I claim: Y

l. A trunk comprising two complementary hinged sections having, whenopened out, overlapping walls with co-acting means concealed between theoverlapping walls registering when the trunk sections are opened outnearly to their limit and interengageable when said sections are fullyopened, and a folding support inseparably connecting the trunk sectionsand operable to prevent relative movement thereof with consequentdisengagement of the co-acting means.

2. A trunk comprising two complementary hinged sections having, whenopened out, overlapping walls with (3o-acting means concealed betweenthe overlapping walls registering when the trunk sections are opened outnearly to their limit and interengaging when said sections are fullyopened, a fixed mounting for one trunk section whereby the other section`is required to move relative thereto during opening and closingmovements, and a toggle link support extending from an upper point onthe fixed trunk section to a lower point on the other trunk sectionbetween the overlapping walls'thereof and operable to prevent relativemovement of the trunk sections with consequent disengagement of theco-acting means.

3. A trunk comprising mounted fixed and swinging sections, the fixedsection having a back and a bottom to the forward edge of which ishinged the bottom edge of a front forming part of the swinging sectionprovided also with sides and a top thereby completing an enclosureV whenthe two sections are in closed relationship, forwardly extended fiangesat opposite ends of the back, a wall hinged to each flange having alength substantially equal to the fore and aft dimension of the bottomplus the vertical dimension of the front, the swinging section whenopened out to present its front horizontally in line with the bottomproviding with the fixed section andhinged walls, when the latter areextended away from the back, an enclosed spaced open only at the top,and coacting means interconnecting the hinged walls with the sides uponrelative vertical movement of the swinging section to fully openposition to secure the hinged walls inextended position and support theswinging section in its fully open position.

4f. A trunk comprising mounted fixed and swinging sections, the fixedsection having a back and a bottom to the forward edge of which ishinged the bottom edge of a front forming part of the swinging sectionprovided also with sides and a top thereby completing an enclosure whenthe two sections are in closed relationship,.the swinging section `whenopened out to present its front i horizontally in line with the bottomproviding with the fixed section an enclosed spacel open only at the topand along the sides adjacent the back, and means for supporting theswinging section in opened-out position comprising a pair of walls eachhinged vertically adjacent one end of the back and swingable forwardlyto positions parallel with and adjacent to the sides of the swingingsection, and coacting means on the sides and hinged walls registi-ablewhen the swinging section is opened out nearly to the position aforesaidand interengageable upon relative movement of the swinging section tofully open position for hooking the swinging section on to the hingedwalls whereby to sustain the former.

5.. A trunkicomprising mounted fixed and swinging sections, the fixedsection having a back and a bottom to the forward edge of verticalYwhich is hinged the bottom edge of a front forming part of the swingingsection provided also with sides and a top thereby completing anenclosure when the two sections are in closed relationship, the swingingsection when opened out to present its front hori- Zontally in line withthe bottom providing with the fixed section an enclosed space open onlyat the topl and along the sides adjacent the back, and means forsupporting the swinging section in opened-out position comprising a pairof walls each hinged vertically adjacent one end of the back andswingable forwardly to positions parallel with and adjacent to the sidesof the swinging section, and co-acting means on the sides and hingedwalls registrable when the swinging section is opened out nearly to theposition aforesaid and interengageablc upon relative vertical move-`ment of the swinging section to fully open position for hooking theswinging section on to the hinged walls whereby to sustain the former,the lower edges of the hinged walls being cut away to permit limitedvertical swinging movement of the swinging section` sufficient forengagement or disengagement of the co-acting means.

6. A trunk comprising mounted fixed and swinging sections, the fixedsection having a back and a bottom to the forward edge of which ishinged the bottom edge of a front forming part of the swinging sectionprovided also with sides and a top thereby completing an enclosure whenthe two sections are in closed relationship, the swinging section whenopened out to present its front horizontally in line with the bottomproviding with the fixed section an enclosed space open only at the topand along the sides adjacent the back, and means for supporting theswinging section `in opened-out position comprising a pair of walls eachhinged vertically adjacent one end of the back and swingable forwardlyto positions parallel with and adjacent to the sides of the swingingsection, and co-acting means on the sides and hinged walls registrablewhen the swinging section is opened out nearly to the position aforesaidand interengageable upon relative vertical movement of the swingingsection to fully open position for hooking the swinging section on tothe hinged walls whereby to sustain the former. the lower edges of thehinged walls being cut away to permit limited vertical swinging movementof the swinging section sufficiently for engagement or disengagement ofthe coacting means, and toggle means independent of the co-acting meansfor releasably holding the swinging section in fully opened-out positionwhereby to normally prevent disengagement of the co-acting means.

LoNGiNUs A. mais.

